Private dermatology consultation cost in the UK: what you pay privately (2026)

A private dermatology consultation is an appointment with a consultant dermatologist to assess skin conditions such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, rashes or concerning moles, with treatment plans and, where needed, a biopsy.

Because we could not confirm a published price for private dermatology consultation, this page does not offer a figure. Each provider sets its own price, so the practical task is to ask several for an itemised estimate and compare what each covers.

The dermatologist asks about your skin and medical history, examines the affected areas, may use a dermatoscope and may recommend tests or treatments. Prescriptions are written on the day.

Bring photographs of how your skin looked when worse, a list of products you use and your GP letter, as this helps to avoid repeat visits.

People see a dermatologist for acne, eczema, psoriasis, persistent rashes, hair loss, suspicious moles and skin lumps. Many conditions can be started on treatment by a GP, and a specialist is helpful when treatment fails or the diagnosis is unclear.

Photographs of your skin at its worst and a list of every cream you have tried help the appointment go further. A suspicious mole should be seen promptly, and the NHS urgent pathway is often the quickest route.

A single guide figure for private dermatology consultation can mislead, because the final amount depends on factors like these.

• Consultant and setting: a consultant dermatologist in a hospital outpatient clinic differs from a private clinic.

• Initial versus follow-up appointments.

• Tests and procedures: biopsy, dermoscopy, patch testing and photography add costs.

• Duration of appointment.

• Treatments: prescriptions and procedures are separate.

Providers define a package differently, so two quotes are only comparable once you line up what each covers. The table lists what is typically in and what is often billed separately for this procedure.

Insurers usually cover dermatology consultations on GP referral, though some policies limit outpatient visits.

Insurers often agree a procedure code and a fee ceiling in advance. Self-pay patients should ask whether instalment finance is offered and what the total repayable would be, as the representative rate and terms differ by lender.

NHS dermatology is accessed through GP referral, with urgent skin cancer referrals prioritised and routine waits varying by area.

NHS care is free at the point of use, and for non-urgent consultant-led treatment the standard is 18 weeks from referral. You also have the right to choose where you are referred in England. Local waits differ, so ask what applies near you.

There is no recovery. Treatments recommended may need ongoing application or follow-up.

No one plans for things to go wrong, but a short conversation about extra costs now can save difficulty later.

• One visit may not settle a long-term condition, so follow-up appointments, tests and prescriptions can add to the total cost.

• A mole or lesion that is changing, bleeding or growing should be seen quickly, and an urgent GP referral may be faster.

Quotes only compare fairly when they cover the same things. Put these questions to every provider you approach.

• What does the consultation fee cover and for how long?

• Are tests or procedures extra?

• What does a follow-up cost?

• Will you write to my GP?

• Will I receive one price covering the hospital, the consultant and the anaesthetic, or several bills from different parties?